Scooter vehicle



F 15, 1927' E. WALTER SCOOTER VEHICLE Filed Sept. 25, 1925 2 s -s t 1INVENTOR L.E.WAL TE'R ATTORNEY Feb. 15,1921. 1,617,357

L. E. WALTER scoomn VEHICLE Fild Sept. 25, 1925 s tspsheet 2 INVENTORL.E. WA L TER E5141 hdlacmm ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 15, 1927'.

mares stares LOWELL E. WAL ER, on Bus MomEs, IOWA.

SCOOTER VEHICLE.

Application filed September 25, 1925. Serial No. 58,519.

This invention relates to and is an im provement on" the devicesillustrated, described andclaimed in my application filed August 25,-1924, Serial Number 733,955, to

5 which reference hereby is made. 7

The principal object of this invention is to provide means forsimplifying the construction by causing the rigid plate to be employedalso as the longitudinal portion of the frame of the machine v Afurtherobject is to provide a cover or guard for the forward endsof thereciprocating pedalplates. V

A further object is to provide an improved form for the rear framemember which provides a support and bearing for the crank axle and alsofor the rigid foot plate.

'A further object is to. provide an improved form employing only'twowheels, with various modifications 'of the frame incident I thereto.

- -ofI+igure 1. V J gure 6 lsa plan view of a modified form With theseand other objects in view, my

invention consists in the construction, ar

,"rangement and combination of elements.

' Figure 5 is which employs only two ground wheels. Figure 7 is side.elevation'of the same;

Figures'S, 9 andlO aredetail sections on therespective line's 8+8 99and, l0 10 member and foot plate combinedijwhich may" be made of awooden beam or other suitof Figure 6. V V

' In the constructioni'of the device as shown in Figures 1 to5inclusive, the numeral 10 is ex'nployed to designate a central frameable material. A steering post 11 is arranged in substantially verticalposition and extendsrotatably through the forward por tion oftheframemember 1 0, and a-ny suita cross-section on the line able means,such as a pin 12, may be emearsiar orricsy; 1

ployedtolprevent downward movement of the post through said member. Thesteering post 11 may be provided at its upper end with a crossbar orhandle 13 or other suitable means for holding and'manually turning itand the steering wheel. A fork I 4 is formed on the lower endof'thesteering post 11, below the frame memberm,

v and a supporting and steeringwheell5 is journaled in saidfork. Therear end portion of the central frame member 10 rests .on and issupported by a cross frame mem- "ber 16, which is formed with downwardlyoffset portions or drops '17 and '18,. one

at each side of the central portion which supports said central framemember; its ends the cross frame member 16 is pro vided with bearings 19and 20- which are in horizontal. alinement with each otherland also withthe lower portion of the central frame member 10. Antaxle 21"is'arranged i transversely above the cross frame member 16 and its endportions journaled in the bearings 19 and 20, and also has its centralportion "journaled in' a'notch-Q-Q in the lower surface, ofthefcentralframe mom ber '10, said notch being closed after the i V axleisinserted, by applying the'cross-fram'e' men'iloer 16 1 and securing it'in'place. The Y axle 21 is formed'with' opposed cranks 23 and 24, one oneach side of its center and in registrationwith the 'drops'171and 18ofthe cross frame "member 16." Supporting and tractionfwheels25 and; QG-arefiKed to; end portions of the crank axle 21" and are,

located just outside of the f bea rings 19 i and 20. o

Apair of longitudinallyextending pedal plates 27 and'28 areprovided; andhave at their rear ends bearings 29' and 30 respectively, on therespective throws or cranks 23'and 24 of the axle. The pedal plates 27'and28 are located on oppositesides of and adjacent tothe centralframe/member 10, and

their forward portions extendacross rollers 31 and 32 journaled on :abolt or rod 33 extcnding through the forward end of the. central framemember; The forward" end portionsof the pedal plates 27 and 28 areadapted for reciprocal movement on the r rollers 31 and 32 as their rearends describe circular movements about the axis of the axle 16 with thecranks 23 and 24 thereof.

' A cover plate 34 is arranged above the for ward ends of the pedalplates 27 and 28 and .central frame member and is fixed to the lattermember, providing-a shield for the forward ends of the pedal plates intheir movement. The cover. plate 36 L- is formed with a downwardlyextending front flange 35 and side flanges 36 which serve to furtherenclose the forward ends of the pedal plates,

and the ends of the bolt or rod 33 are further supported in the sideflanges 36. V A cross brace 37 preferably is rigidly fixed to andconnects the drops 17 and 18 of'the cross frame member 16.

In practical'use the operator stands with onefoot on each pedal plate 27or 28 and his weight is shifted alternatelvfrom one to the other, hislegs andbodv being moved in such manner as to cause said pedal plates todescribe oscillatory movements, their rear ends traveling in circularorbits and their forward ends reciprocating on the rollers 31 and 32.This movement of the pedal plates is communicated to the cranks 23 and24 of'the axle, causing the rear wheels 25and26 to be rotated and thevehicle p ro pelled. The operator grasps the steering post 11 or handle13 thereon to brace and steadyhimself andalso to steer the vehicle.

. Flanges 38 are fixed to and project downwardly from the side marginsof the pedal 7 plates 27 and 28, said flanges being of approximately thesame width as the vertical spaces "between said plates and the centralframe member 10 when said plates are at the extremes of their up anddown movement. The flanges 38 extend throughout major portions ofthelengths of the pedal plates and it is theirfunction to provideguards-to prevent entrance of the op-eratorls toes between said platesand the frame ;mem

her: during operation.

At times the operator may shift one or both feet from the movable pedalplates to the central frame member 10 when he wishes to rest or tocoast. A braking effect may be. applied. to the pedal platesand throughthem: to the rear wheels, by back .pedalling. As the, pedal plates areof substantially the same length as the vehicle frame, they have ampleleverage on the crank axle, and the lever advantage maybe varied byshifting the operators position longitudinally.

I In-the construction according to Figures 6 tov 10 inclusive; a singlerear: wheel is employed "which is in longitudinal al'ine-' mentwith thesteering wheel 15. V The central frame member 10 is in thisinstanceformed'of a channel iron with its flanges directed downwardly. and inits rear portion it is formed with a narrow rearwardly openingtnotch39within which the forward porrespects the construction and arrangementf is similar to that previously described in connection with the threewheeled form of the vehicle. I

In riding the two-wheeled vehicle, the operatormust of course balancehimselfmand the vehicle. in addition to propelling it in the 'mannerpreviously described.

An elongated bearing 42 preferably is provided for the steering post. 11in this form of the device. and said bearing is carried by thehorizontal portion of the channel.

frame member 10. The guard flanges 38 of the pedal plates may bejomittedif desired, particularly on the outer margins. I

The wheels 25 and 26 of the preferred form have been referred to astraction wheels, but it is to be understood thatif desired one only ofsaid wheels maybe made fast to'the axle and, the other be free thereon.

I claim as my invention r J 1. In a scooter vehicle, a longitudinalframe member centrally arranged, a steering wheel at the forward'endthereof, a crank axle 'journaled at the rear of said frame member andprojecting on both sides thereof. said crank axle having a pair ofopposed cranks. pedal plates arranged on' opposite sides of said framemember and having bearings at their rear ends on said cranks, rollerssupported at the forward end of said frame member on whlch the forwardends of said pedal plates are'adapted to reciprocate, and

a traction wheel fixed to the mid-portion of said crank axlebetween thecranks thereof and n almement with said steering wheel. 2. 111 a scootervehicle, a' central longi tudinal frame member a steeringwheel at' theforward endthereof, a crank axle journaled at the rear ofsaid frame.member and projecting on both sidesthereof, said crank axle beingformed with a pair ofopposed cranks on opposite sides of said framememframe member and having bearings at their rear ends on said cranksand'having their forward portions arranged for reciprocation, tractionmeans secured to said crank axle, and a cover plate/fixed to the forwardporber, pedal plates arranged-parallelwith said tion of said framemember and-covering the forward end port-ionsof saidpedalplates.

tudinal framemember, a steering wheel at the forward end thereof, acrank axlejournaled in its mid-portion at the rear end of said framemember, said crank axle-being formed with opposed cranks on opposite 3.In a scooter vehicle, a central longisides of said frame member, pedalplates arranged parallel with said frame member and having bearings attheir rear'ends on said cranks, rollers carried by the forward end ofsaid frame member upon which said pedal plates are arranged for slidingmovement, traction means fixed to said crank vided with dependingflanges, whereby the 10 forward ends of said pedal plates are partiallyenclosed.

LOWELL WALTER.

